TCU’s first year in the Big 12 was about returning to where it wanted to be so badly for so long.

For West Virginia, it’s still about the journey. As happy as the Mountaineers are to have made a soft landing in realignment, they remain geographically isolated within the conference.

The Big 12’s two newest members are still waiting for their signature moments, not that it has dampened their view. Realistically, few schools improved their situations in conference realignment more than TCU and West Virginia.

“We are back home,” TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “When the Big 12 was formed, we always wanted to be back into place. So when [acting commissioner] Chuck Neinas welcomed us back in, what was his comment? ‘Welcome home.’ And that’s exactly what we feel like.”

Of course, Del Conte is a walking can of Red Bull. He gets stoked about a trip to the water cooler.

His more subdued West Virginia counterpart, Oliver Luck, says his fan base is “absolutely delighted” and remains enthused.

“I think it’s every bit as high as when we moved into the conference,” Luck said. “It’s been a great experience so far for us — a learning experience as well.”

A safe refuge

Despite growing pains, the positives are undeniable:

Stability. The Horned Frogs had been athletic nomads since the demise of the Southwest Conference, bouncing from league to league. TCU was headed for the embattled Big East to join West Virginia before the Big 12 called. Now both schools belong to the newly stable Big 12 instead of the Conference USA reunion tour known as the American Athletic Conference.

The College Football Playoff. It’s far easier to reach one of the bowls in the playoff from a power conference such as the Big 12. The five conferences without built-in contracts to playoff bowls are guaranteed just one berth combined beginning in 2014.

Cash. Even getting half shares in their first Big 12 season, TCU and West Virginia earned $11 million apiece. Last season, the Big East distribution for West Virginia was under $7 million. And TCU made about $2 million annually during its ultra-successful run in the Mountain West.

Each school will be faced with upgrading its athletic budgets, although full Big 12 shares by 2015-16 should make it much easier. TCU’s athletic budget of $42 million made it the Yankees of the Mountain West and the Pirates in the Big 12. West Virginia’s budget is approaching $80 million, Luck said, when a few years ago it was $60 million.

Not everything has gone well. Both schools went from recent BCS appearances to 7-6 finishes in Big 12 football.

TCU finished a combined 4-32 against Big 12 opponents in men’s and women’s basketball. A $45 million renovation of Daniel Meyer Coliseum will begin after the 2013-14 season. Even baseball missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003.

Del Conte said the Big 12 wasn’t necessarily tougher than expected.

“I think we generally appreciated the depth of the league,” Del Conte said. “We had nine teams go to bowl games. It’s tough. And you have to scrap for a game. … You come over to Amon Carter Stadium any weekend, and it’s a dogfight.”

Culture change

Luck tried to minimize travel as a concern as he has done with a no-excuse policy for his coaches. Even he had to concede to geographic realities. Iowa State, an 872-mile drive, is the closest Big 12 campus to Morgantown, W. Va.

Both basketball teams experienced returns in the wee hours of the morning, which made 8 a.m. classes a chore. The football team’s downward spiral began with a road game in Austin followed by a trip to Lubbock the next week.

“We made some fairly reasonable requests to the conference,” Luck said, adding, “You can’t wish it away, but we are going to minimize the effects the best we can.”

West Virginia has asked for Saturday-Monday road trips in basketball, with a couple of road games in early January before school returns.

After an athletic directors meeting earlier this year, commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the consensus was to do everything possible to aid West Virginia, which has no natural rivals and is still learning about the Big 12 — as the lopsided loss at Texas Tech illustrated.

“They didn’t have upperclassmen telling them what it was like,” Luck said, “that you’ll see the tortillas flying out there.”

Luck said he hopes to renew rivalries such as Pitt or Maryland in the non-conference schedule.

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds gave each school a thumbs up.

“Good people. Good programs. Their fans are excited about it. It’s been good for the Big 12,” Dodds said. “They want to be in the Big 12, which is huge.”

Follow Chuck Carlton on Twitter at @ChuckCarltonDMN.

TCU

How key TCU programs fared in their first Big 12 season compared with 2011-12 in the Mountain West:

Sport,MWC, Big 12

Football, 11-2 (7-0), 7-6 (4-5)

Men’s basketball, 18-15 (7-7), 11-21 (2-16)

Women’s basketball, 16-14 (9-5), 9-21 (2-16)

Baseball, 40-20 (18-6), 29-28 (12-12)

Highlights: Teams or individuals made the postseason in 12 of 20 sports. … Charles Silmon won the 100 at the NCAA outdoor track and field meet.

West Virginia

How key West Virginia programs fared in their first Big 12 season compared with 2011-12 in the Big East:

Sport, BE, Big 12

Football, 10-3 (5-2), 7-6 (4-5)

Men’s basketball, 19-14 (9-9), 13-19 (6-12)

Women’s basketball, 24-10 (11-5), 17-14 (9-9)

Baseball, 23-32 (9-18), 33-26 (13-11)

Highlights: Baseball, which will be receiving a new, $16 million field, enjoyed a renaissance under new coach Randy Mazey.

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